PRIME MINISTER

Travel

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions and for what reasons he has used military transport for domestic travel since taking office; and if he will provide a list of all such occasions.

David Cameron: I travel making the most efficient and cost-effective arrangements and in accordance with chapter 10 of the Ministerial Code. Most recently, because of logistics, I travelled by military transport for a visit in Yorkshire on 24 October after which I immediately travelled to the European Council meeting in Brussels.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Energy

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to reduce its spending on (a) gas and (b) electricity;
	(3)  which companies supplied (a) gas and (b) electricity to his Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has in place a number of measures to reduce spend on gas and electricity which are aimed both at reducing overall consumption and cost. These include draught-proofing; increased use of automated meters on gas and electricity supplies to allow for more accurate real time energy reporting; replacing cathode ray tube monitors and inefficient lamps with LED technology; and carrying out staff awareness campaigns to encourage staff to switch off all electronic and electrical facilities.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's financial management system shows that for financial year 2010-11 the FCO spent £37,959 on gas and £2,549,935 on electricity. The data for financial year 2011-12 shows the FCO spent £40,831 on gas and £2,530,841 on electricity.
	In financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12, electricity was supplied to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) by EDF Energy. Gas was supplied by Corona Energy, British Gas and EON, which in financial year 2010-11 was known under its former name of Powergen. These companies provided power to the FCO's UK buildings in King Charles Street, Old Admiralty Building, Lancaster House, Carlton Gardens and the Hanslope Park campus. In addition, the FCO maintains a partial tenancy at Northgate House, Milton Keynes. The landlord for Northgate House is responsible for the provision of gas and electricity to the building.
	These answers relate to the UK estate only comprising of the buildings listed above. It would incur a disproportionate cost to source this information from our network of posts as this information is held locally, but posts are committed to obtaining value for money in all their expenditure.

Sexual Offences

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of women who have been assisted by the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative.

Mark Simmonds: The aim of Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative is to shatter the culture of impunity that exists for sexual violence in conflict, with the goal of ending the use of rape as a weapon of war in conflicts worldwide. It aims to do this by increasing the number of perpetrators held to account and strengthening national capacity.
	It is built around a high-level political campaign supported by a range of practical measures, such as the development of an International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict, sustained country engagement, and targeted deployments of the UK team of experts to help conflict-affected countries. Through these deployments we have worked with a number of governments, including in Bosnia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali and Kosovo to help them develop measures that have had immediate benefit on the lives of women, men and child survivors of sexual violence. It complements the work of the Department for International Development which has the protection of women and girls in conflict situations as one of its high priorities.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Complaints

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Attorney-General 
	(1)  how many complaints of sexual discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of (a) the Law Officers' Departments and (b) its Executive agencies by (i) employees and (ii) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action;
	(2)  how many complaints of homophobic or transphobic discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of (a) the Law Officers' Departments and (b) its Executive agencies by (i) employees and (ii) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action;
	(3)  how many complaints of age discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of (a) the Law Officers' Departments and (b) its Executive agencies by (i) employees and (ii) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action;
	(4)  how many complaints of disability discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of (a) the Law Officers' Departments and (b) its Executive agencies by (i) employees and (ii) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action;
	(5)  how many complaints of racial discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of (a) the Law Officers' Departments and (b) its Executive agencies by (i) employees and (ii) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action;
	(6)  how many complaints of discrimination related to pregnancy or maternity have been lodged against employees of (a) the Law Officers' Departments and (b) its Executive agencies by (i) current employees or (ii) prospective employees in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action.

Oliver Heald: Between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2013, 62 equality complaints (internal grievances) have been raised by CPS employees. During the same period seven grievances resulted in disciplinary action being taken. However it is not possible to confirm whether this action was in relation to any specific equality complaint, as the CPS does not record any detailed information distinguishing between different elements of equality complaints. The following table shows the annual breakdown for all equality complaints:
	
		
			  Equality grievance Disciplinary action 
			 2008-09 15 4 
			 2009-10 13 1 
			 2010-11 14 2 
			 2011-12 13 0 
			 2012-13 7 0 
			 Total 62 7 
		
	
	Complaints made by individuals external to the CPS are categorised on the following basis; legal decision making, mixed (legal and non-legal decision making) and non- legal decision making. Specific information is not currently held on complaints about the above mentioned forms of discrimination and harassment against CPS employees in the last five years.
	The following table contains details of the complaints lodged against the Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol) employees by other employees during the past five years for the above specified forms of discrimination or harassment.
	
		
			 Treasury Solicitor's Department(1) 
			  Sexuality Disability Age Race Pregnancy/maternity Homophobic/transphobic 
			 2009 — 1 — 1 — — 
			 2010 2 3 1 2 — — 
			 2011 — 2 — — — — 
			 2012 — 2 — — — — 
			 2013 — 1 — 1 — — 
			 (1) TSol data also covers the Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. 
		
	
	There were no complaints received by TSol in the relevant period from any individuals who were not employees. There was no disciplinary action resulting from the complaints raised in the last five years.
	The Serious Fraud Office have not received any formal complaints relating to the above mentioned forms of discrimination or harassment being lodged against its employees by other employees or other individuals during the past five years.

Employment Tribunals Service

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Attorney-General how many employment tribunal hearings have been lodged against the Law Officers' Departments on the grounds of pregnancy or maternity discrimination in each of the last five years; and how many such cases resulted in a ruling against his Department.

Oliver Heald: No employment tribunal hearings have been lodged against the Law Officers' Departments for pregnancy or maternity discrimination in the last five years.

Offences Against Children

Diana Johnson: To ask the Attorney-General how many referrals have been made to the Crown Prosecution Service by the police regarding child sexual offences in each of the last five years. [Official Report, 20 November 2013, Vol. 570, c. 5-6MC.]

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of referrals made to the CPS by the police for allegations of child sexual offences. The CPS does identity, by way of a monitoring flag, the number of pre-charge decisions made against suspects alleged to have been involved in the sexual abuse of children. The following table sets out the number of such decisions in each of the last five years:
	
		
			  Pre-Charge Decisions 
			 2008-09 11,094 
			 2009-10 12,691 
			 2010-11 13,018 
			 2011-12 11,613 
			 2012-13 9,381 
		
	
	The CPS definition of child abuse covers any case where the victim was under 18 years of age at the time of the offence and allegations or crimes perpetrated by both adults and offenders aged under 18.

Staff

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of employees within the Law Officers' Departments on each Civil Service pay scale have a physical or learning disability.

Oliver Heald: Information on the proportion of employees within the Law Officers' Departments, broken down by civil service pay grade who have declared themselves as having a disability is contained in the following tables.
	
		
			 Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol)(1) 
			 Civil Service Standard Grade Proportion of grade (%) 
			 AO 9.1 
			 EO 10.6 
			 HEO 3.6 
			 SEO 3.3 
			 G7 3.5 
			 Grade 6 3.3 
			 Legal Officer 10 
			 SCS 4.3 
			 Legal Trainee 3.1 
			 (1) TSol data also includes the Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. 
		
	
	
		
			 Crown Prosecution Service 
			 Civil Service Standard Grade Proportion of grade (%) 
			 AA 13.70 
			 AO 6.17 
			 EO 5.79 
			 HEO 5.06 
			 SEO 5.92 
			 G7 5.83 
			 Grade 6 4.33 
			 SCS 3.03 
		
	
	
		
			 Serious Fraud Office 
			  Declared Disabled—Proportion (%) 
			 AO/EO(1) 10 
			 HEO and above(1) 4 
			 (1) The SFO is a relatively small organisation and data has therefore been consolidated to protect staff confidentiality.

Staff

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of employees within the Law Officers' Departments on each Civil Service pay scale are (a) white British and (b) from black, Asian and from other minority ethnic groups.

Oliver Heald: The information requested is contained in the following tables.
	
		
			 Serious Fraud Office 
			 Percentage 
			 Grade Employees declared as white Employees declared as black or minority ethnic 
			 AO 53.85 30.77 
			 EO 44.62 30.77 
			 HEO 54.24 30.51 
			 SEO 73.91 10.87 
			 G7 68.25 12.70 
			 G6 46.88 12.50 
			 SCS 46.15 0.00 
		
	
	
		
			 Crown Prosecution Service 
			 Percentage 
			 Grade Employees declared as white Employees declared as black or minority ethnic 
			 AA 72.60 8.22 
			 AO 68.51 18.30 
			 EO 71.85 16.02 
			 HEO 75.77 13.96 
			 SEO 79.61 13.82 
			 G7 71.49 14.68 
			 G6 76.92 9.62 
			 SCS 80.30 16.67 
		
	
	TSol employee ethnicity is recorded by the following categories: Asian or Asian British, black or black British, mixed, not stated, other ethnic groups and white. The proportion of these categories by civil service pay scale (grade) are detailed as follows:
	
		
			 Treasury Solicitor's Department(1) 
			 Percentage 
			 Grade White Asian or Asian British Black or black British Mixed Other 
			 AO 35.2 8 31.8 1.1 2.3 
			 EO 45.5 12.2 16.3 2.4 4.1 
			 HEO 60.7 7.1 12.5 5.4 1.8 
			 SEO 56.7 6.7 20 3.3 — 
			 G7 57.7 7.3 3.8 3.3 1.8 
			 G6 64.9 4.6 2.7 2.7 1.4 
			 Legal officer 83.3 — — 6.7 — 
			 Legal trainee 65.6 — — 3.1 3.1 
			 Personal secretary 50 — 33.3 16.7 — 
			 SCS 66 6.4 2.1 3.2 — 
			 (1) Tsol data also includes the Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.

Staff

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of employees within the Law Officers' Departments on each Civil Service pay scale are (a) female and (b) male.

Oliver Heald: The information requested is contained in the following table:
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  TSol(2) SFO CPS 
			 Grade Male Female Male Female Male Female 
			 AA — — — — 61.64 38.36 
			 AO 39.8 60.2 46.15 53.85 24.04 75.96 
			 EO 38.2 61.8 47.69 J 52.31 26.65 73.35 
			 HEO 41.1 58.9 54.24 45.76 33.28 66.72 
			 SEO 60 40 69.57 30.43 34.21 65.79 
			 G7 36.4 63.6 58.73 41.27 41.29 58.71 
			 G6 42.2 57.8 78.13 21.88 61.54 38.46 
			 SCS 48.9 51.1 69.23 30.77 51.52 48.48 
			 Legal Officer(1) 50 50 — — — — 
			 Legal Trainee(1) 31.2 68.8 — — — — 
			 Personal Secretary(1) — 100 — — — — 
			 (1) TSol only staff grade. (2)Tsol data also cover the Attorney General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.

TRANSPORT

Cross Country Railway Line

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what investment in (a) infrastructure, (b) rolling stock and (c) stations on the Cross Country Line there has been since 2009-10;
	(2)  what the total investment in (a) infrastructure, (b) rolling stock and (c) stations on the Greater Anglia Line from 2009-10 to date has been;
	(3)  what the total investment in (a) infrastructure, (b) rolling stock and (c) stations on the Great Western Line from 2009-10 to date has been;
	(4)  what the total investment in (a) infrastructure, (b) rolling stock and (c) stations on the West Coast Main Line from 2009-10 to date has been.

Stephen Hammond: Network Rail owns the infrastructure on the GB rail network, and infrastructure investment is undertaken by them. The Department does not hold the information requested. Network Rail may well have more detail as regards to providing the total costs by line or route, however Network Rail may not hold the information by Franchise as the Network is shared across operators.
	With regards to Rolling Stock, the Department does not hold the information requested. The only information the Department holds is on lease costs for each Franchise. However, this information is commercially sensitive. Investment for rolling stock can and does come from various sources (for example the Rolling Stock Companies and operators).
	All stations on the Network are owned by Network Rail; they are managed by either Network Rail, train operators, concessions (MerseyRail for example) or Passenger Transport Executives. Although the Department can and does specify station improvement outcomes in Franchise Agreements, the station agent for that station is given the commercial freedom to negotiate the best value for money deal for that outcome, and is under no obligation to report that information to the Department. Funding for station investment can and does come from non-departmental sources. There is no obligation to inform the Department of funding generated from non-departmental sources.

Cycling: Accidents

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cyclists were (a) involved in reported accidents, (b) seriously injured and (c) killed on the national trunk road network in each of the last three years.

Robert Goodwill: The number of cyclists (a) involved in reported accidents, (b) seriously injured and (c) killed on the English national trunk road network, in each of the last three years, are displayed in the following table:
	
		
			  2010 2011 2012 
			 (a) Involved in reported accidents 152 179 169 
			 (b) Seriously injured 40 37 45 
			 (c) Killed 12 5 8 
		
	
	These figures are based on the 2010 English national trunk road network layout. The Department does not hold data relating to the national trunk road networks in Scotland or Wales.
	Data for 2013 will be available in June 2014.

Great Western Railway Line

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investment in (a) on-board catering facilities, (b) WiFi and (c) recycling facilities has been made on the Great Western Line since 2009-10.

Stephen Hammond: While this is primarily a matter for the train operator, the Department is aware that investment of £675,000 has been made on recycling and reduction of waste to landfill in total, including additional hardware in the form of new recycling bins for depots and stations. £222,000 has been invested to date on the introduction of WiFi on 5 class 180 trains. First Great Western have introduced a Pullman catering service and have maintained all other catering services in line with the Franchise Agreement.
	As part of the new Franchise Agreement with First Great Western, announced on 3 October 2013, the Department secured an agreement to fit more trains with free WiFi, with priority given to longer distance services.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether direct train services from (a) Sandwell and Dudley and (b) Wolverhampton to London Euston will be reduced upon the completion of High Speed 2.

Robert Goodwill: The Department's aim is that all towns or cities which currently have a direct service to London will retain broadly comparable or better services once HS2 is completed.
	It is not appropriate to specify the exact timetable for train services that are planned to operate in 2026 when HS2 Phase 1 services begin. The detailed timetable development will take place nearer the time and will consider operational considerations as well as the forecast passenger demand for services.
	As highlighted in the Strategic Case, published on 29 October, in partnership with the railway industry, we intend to announce, shortly, a transparent and participatory process to consider long-term issues, opportunities and options for rail services on HS2 corridors. This will consider how these services can support the delivery of economic growth on a sustainable basis.

Rescue Services

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will detail the number of maritime rescue co-ordination centres for which staffing levels dropped below risk-assessed levels nationally in each month from January to September 2013.

Stephen Hammond: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has long and well established procedures in place for when the staffing levels in the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) fail to meet the risk-assessed levels. These enable each MRCC to be connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support.
	The following table shows the number of MRCCs where staffing levels dropped below risk-assessed levels on at least one occasion in each month from January to September 2013.
	
		
			 2013 Number 
			 January 14 
			 February 13 
		
	
	
		
			 March 13 
			 April 14 
			 May 15 
			 June 15 
			 July 15 
			 August 15 
			 September 14 
		
	
	The MCA are proactively addressing these issues and have recently completed two recruitment campaigns. As a result, 28 new recruits are now in post with a further 31 currently going through the final phases of the appointment process.
	Where there are specific issues at a MRCC Her Majesty's Coastguard are using the current long established pairing arrangements between MRCCs.

Rescue Services

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he and officials in his Department have had with fire and rescue services nationally regarding their at-sea presence.

Stephen Hammond: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) met with officials from local government authorities (LGAs) and senior representatives of the Chief Fire Officers' Association (CFOA) in 2012 to discuss arrangements for fire fighting at sea. Fire authorities and CFOA were represented at this meeting which was hosted by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
	MCA officials also participated in a meeting in February 2013 of the Fire & Rescue Marine Response (FRMR) Group where the subject of fire fighting at sea was discussed. No agreements or undertakings were made with that group.

Rescue Services

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in which periods full shadow operations will be in place prior to the closure of the maritime rescue coordination centres in (a) Brixham, (b) Portland and (c) Solent.

Stephen Hammond: The current concept of operations requires paired Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) to have operational familiarity with their paired MRCC. Therefore the MRCCs at Solent and Portland already have familiarity with each other's areas of operation; likewise the Falmouth MRCC has familiarity of the Brixham MRCC's area.
	With the announcement of the transition timetable, actions are in hand to ensure that the transfer of knowledge is refreshed and reviewed as part of normal day-to-day operations. This will be accentuated by operational shadowing in the month preceding a MRCC closing.

Rescue Services

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish details of the number and standing of the local experts from whom local intelligence was formally gathered prior to the closure of the Clyde, Forth and Yarmouth maritime rescue coordination centres.

Stephen Hammond: The closure of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) at Forth, Clyde and Great Yarmouth occurred only when the Maritime and Coastguard Agency was satisfied that all relevant information and services were transferred to remaining MRCCs and those receiving MRCCs were fully tested.
	Unfortunately due to the prevailing industrial action short of strike at the time of closures, details regarding the number and standing of stakeholders involved in local intelligence gathering process is incomplete.
	This process included knowledge transfer between Watchkeeping staff at closing and remaining centres; briefings from Her Majesty's Coastguard Sector Managers to Watchkeepers taking on the closing MRCCs area of operational responsibility; and the gathering of local intelligence from Coastguard Rescue Officers, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Managers, RNLI crew, independent rescue boat crews, Beach Lifeguards, Harbour Masters, Broads Authority and members of the public.

Rescue Services

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the Government's proposed changes to search and rescue co-ordination on the efficacy of local authority coastguards protecting local waters.

Stephen Hammond: The programme to modernise Her Majesty's Coastguard focuses on the coordination of civilian maritime search and rescue. The Coastguard Rescue Teams, like, the RNLI, independent lifeboats, beach lifeguards, rescue helicopters and other rescue facilities are not affected by these changes.
	It should be noted that the Coastguard Rescue Service is a network of volunteer teams around the UK coast that is part of Her Majesty's Coastguard and not a service delivered or managed by local authorities.

Rights of Way: West Sussex

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding his Department has made available to support (a) footpaths and (b) bridleways in each of the local authority areas of West Sussex in each of the last 10 years.

Robert Goodwill: The Department provides capital funding to local highway authorities through both the Highways Maintenance and Integrated Transport Blocks. This funding is not ring-fenced and can be used for these activities if these are deemed a priority by the authority.
	Funding we have provided to West Sussex county council since 2004-05 for both highways maintenance and integrated transport is as follows:
	
		
			 £ million 
			 Financial year Integrated Transport Highways Maintenance Block 
			 2004-05 7.157 9.368 
			 2005-06 6.878 7.648 
			 2006-07 5.341 7.968 
			 2007-08 5.969 8.314 
			 2008-09 6.500 8.937 
			 2009-10 7.093 9.609 
			 2010-11 5.767 10.402 
			 2011-12 5.007 10.519 
		
	
	
		
			 2012-13 4.578 10.447 
			 2013-14 4.578 12.530

WORK AND PENSIONS

Atos Healthcare

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets health assessors working for Atos Healthcare work towards; and whether a bonus is payable upon reaching such targets.

Michael Penning: The current contractual agreement between Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Atos Healthcare contains numerous performance targets covering a wide range of features including throughput, claimant service and medical quality. There are no percentage targets for Atos Healthcare's various recommendations to DWP in the Health Assessors' medical output reports.
	Atos Healthcare are expected to clear Work Capability Assessments within an Actual Average Clearance Target (AACT) of 35 working days and there has been no easement in this service level. Atos Healthcare report on performance against that target on a month by month basis and there are no bonuses payable if that target is reached.

Credit: Interest Rates

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2013, Official Report, column 455W, on credit: interest rates, if he will estimate the number of people with disabilities who have requested a payday loan in each of the last 60 months.

Steve Webb: The information is not available because the Government does not collect information on the number of requests for payday loans.

Employment: Disability

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2013, Official Report, column 657W, on employment: disability, if he will commission an impact assessment into the effect on (a) sick leave and (b) health of staff who have returned to work as a consequence of changes to disability benefit.

Michael Penning: The Department has no plans to commission an impact assessment into the effect on (a) sick leave and (b) health of staff who have returned to work as a consequence of changes to disability benefit.

Energy

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12.

Michael Penning: The Department for Work and Pensions spend on gas and electricity in 2010 -11 and 2011-12 was as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			  2010-11 2011-12 
			 Gas 6,545,070 6,895,587 
			 Electricity 19,666,344 21,818,837

Energy

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to reduce the cost of gas and electricity provision for his Department.

Michael Penning: The Department for Work and Pensions has in place a publicly available Carbon Management Plan. This details the strategic, administrative and technical actions to be taken to meet the Greening Government Commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 25% by 2015, as well as helping to deliver cumulative and in year savings on the energy spend.
	The Department's gas and electricity providers are currently, EDF and British Gas (for half hourly and non-half hourly electricity respectively) and Corona Energy (for gas). The contracts were let using Government Procurement Service (GPS) frameworks. Electricity and gas are purchased on the wholesale markets for periods of up to three years in advance by GPS using the agreed public sector buying strategy. This enables the Department to benefit from the Government's collaborative procurement policy and GPS market expertise.
	In addition, the Department is an active participant in the Government's Energy for Growth initiative. The first project (energy from a waste plant in Teesside) is expected to deliver £84 million in savings over the 20 year life of the contract through an innovative fixed agreement that will provide stability in what the public sector pays for energy. The Department is also actively investigating the potential for using geothermal energy at some of its sites in the North East.

Energy

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions who the provider was for (a) gas and (b) electricity in his Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12.

Michael Penning: The Department for Work and Pensions' provider of gas and electricity in 2010-11 and 2011-12 was as follows:
	
		
			  2010-11 2011-12 
			 Gas Total Gas and Power Ltd Total Gas and Power Ltd 
			 Electricity Scottish and Southern Energy plc Scottish and Southern Energy plc

Separated People: Finance

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when each of the seven voluntary and third-sector projects established in March 2013 under the Help and Support for Separated Families Innovation Fund (a) will begin and (b) is due to finish.

Steve Webb: Contracts for the seven projects funded through the first round of the Innovation Fund were signed in April this year and they will all conclude by the end of March 2015. The start date for customers varies. Projects by Malachi, Resolve Cymru, Spurgeons and Howells started in April 2013. Services run by Resolution started between April and June in different locations. Finally, the digital projects to be delivered by Relate and OnePlusOne respectively will begin around December 2013.

Work Capability Assessment

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish updated statistics for tables 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 and 11 of his Department's statistics bulletin, Employment and Support Allowance: outcomes of work capability assessments, published on 22 October 2013.

Michael Penning: DWP statisticians are working with Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) to incorporate unpublished appeals data as soon as it is available. We hope to be able to do so in our next publication in January 2014. An exact date will be notified to users in advance, in accordance with standard UK Statistics Authority guidelines, via the publication hub at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/hub/index.html

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Energy: Prices

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with (a) British Gas, (b) EDF Energy, (c) E.ON, (d) nPower, (e) Scottish Power and (f) SSE on those companies' plans to reduce existing discounts for customers who pay their bills by direct debit.

Michael Fallon: DECC Ministers and officials have had a number of discussions with energy supply companies about a range of energy issues.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Energy

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department spent on (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12.

Alan Duncan: DFID spent on its UK estate, £66,779 on gas supplies and £515,100 on electricity during 2010-11 and £73,500 on gas supplies and £509,522 on electricity during 2011-12.

Energy

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to reduce its spending on (a) gas and (b) electricity.

Alan Duncan: DFID has and is reducing spend on gas through various measures including the installation of an insulating green roof and a biomass boiler at our office in Scotland. We are also currently repairing the external fabric of the building to limit heat loss. We have reduced electricity through decreasing the number of IT servers, printers and also by using PC and laptop models which use 50% less electricity.
	A reduction in plant operation times and better temperature control at both UK sites has resulted in significant savings in both gas and electricity, in London we have recently moved to a new smaller office which will save 25% in energy usage; as part of this we are also replacing elements of the heating and lighting systems with more modern, energy-efficient alternatives.
	In 2012-13 DFID reported a reduction of 26% in carbon emissions against the baseline year which resulted in savings of over £300 000 in energy costs. This has saved £300,000 this year.

Energy

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which companies supplied (a) gas and (b) electricity to her Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12.

Alan Duncan: The company who supplied DFID's two headquarters offices in London and East Kilbride were as follows:
	(a) gas in 2010-11 and 2011 -12: Corona Energy; and
	(b) electricity in 2010-11 and 2011-12: EDF Energy.

Telephone Services

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what geographic telephone numbers her Department advertises for use by the general public.

Alan Duncan: DFID advertises on its webpage, under
	www.gov.uk,
	five ways for the general public to contact the Department by telephone:
	In the UK to contact the Public Enquiry Point call 0845 300 4100;
	Outside of the UK to contact the Public Enquiry Point call +44(0)1355 84 3132;
	To contact a named member of staff in London call 020 7023 0000;
	To contact a named member of staff in East Kilbride call 01355 844000; and
	For the Press Office call 020 7023 0600.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

A4E

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what evaluation has been undertaken of the A4E's work using volunteers to work with complex cases in the troubled families programme.

Kris Hopkins: The Department for Communities and Local Government has not undertaken any evaluation of A4E's work in relation to troubled families. A4E is not part of the Troubled Families programme and receives no funding directly from the Department in relation to the programme. It is for local authorities to decide how best to deliver the programme in their area.

Disadvantaged: Families

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what evaluation his Department has undertaken of the work of private companies working as part of the troubled families programme.

Kris Hopkins: The Department for Communities and Local Government has not undertaken any evaluation of the work of private companies as part of the Troubled Families programme. It is for local authorities to decide how best to deliver the programme in their area.
	The Department commissioned a three-year independent evaluation of the programme overall. The details are available here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/news/study-to-assess-impact-of-troubled-families-work
	This evaluation does not specifically cover the work of private companies.

Disadvantaged: Families

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of savings to the public purse to date due to crime, health and social problems being avoided as a result of the troubled families programme; and how this figure is calculated.

Kris Hopkins: In January 2013, the Department for Communities and Local Government published the “Cost of Troubled Families” report
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-cost-of-troubled-families
	and the “Fiscal Case for Troubled Families” report
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-fiscal-case-for-working-with-troubled-families-analysis-and-evidence-on-the-costs-of-troubled-families-to-government
	These reports provide the best available information on the potential savings that can be achieved through the Troubled Families programme (including crime, health and other social problems) and on the work under way in local areas to build on this evidence base.
	Since the publication of these reports, the Department has also commissioned an independent national evaluation of the Troubled Families programme. This work will include an evaluation of the economic and fiscal benefits of the programme. Further information about the-evaluation is available here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/news/study-to-assess-impact-of-troubled-families-work
	The evaluation is under way and initial findings will be available in 2014.

Pay

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his announcement of 18 July 2013 on the creation of a reward scheme for officials in his Department who recommend money-saving ideas, what incentives he intends to offer through that scheme; on what basis those rewards will be offered; under which budgetary cost heading the purchasing of rewards will be made; and what the (a) minimum and (b) maximum reward under the scheme will be.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 8 October 2013
	I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 July 2013, Official Report, column 707W, on how the scheme operates and how it rewards the saving of taxpayers' money. The minimum award is £25 and the maximum is £50.

HEALTH

Death: Weather

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely number of excess winter deaths in 2013-14; and whether he has produced alternative estimates based on varying weather scenarios.

Jane Ellison: The causes of excess winter deaths are complex and linked not just to the weather but also to the wider determinants of health. This makes excess winter deaths difficult to predict in advance.
	The Office for National Statistics compares observed winter deaths with non-winter deaths retrospectively, and we are awaiting their estimate for last winter (2012-13) this is due for publication next month.
	Public Health England (PHE) has, however, recently published the Cold Weather Plan for England, which aims to avoid preventable deaths in winter by setting out a series of actions for organisations, communities and individuals, to take throughout the year.
	PHE does not make any estimates of future numbers of excess winter deaths. The data it publishes are based on past experience.

Dementia

Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what progress has been made on implementing the National Dementia Strategy for England;
	(2)  what plans he has to develop a new National Dementia Strategy for England following the current strategy's expiration in 2014;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of Improving Dementia Services in England, an interim report published by the National Audit Office in January 2010, HC82; and how many recommendations of this report have been met to date.

Norman Lamb: The National Dementia Strategy runs until 2014, and the Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia, which builds on progress made on the strategy, runs until 2015. Decisions on future policy on dementia will be made following the forthcoming evaluation of progress of the Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia.
	On 15 May 2013, a report on progress in delivering improvements in dementia care and research, “The Prime Ministers Challenge on Dementia, Delivering major improvements in dementia care and research by 2015: Annual report of progress”, was published. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.
	We have made no assessment of the 2010 National Audit Office report or its recommendations, which apply to implementation of the National Dementia Strategy.

Depressive Illnesses

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in each region and nation of the UK have been reported as suffering from depression.

Norman Lamb: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	An Office for National Statistics survey in 2004 “Mental health of children and young people in Great Britain” found that one in ten children aged between five and 16 years has a clinically diagnosable mental health problem, with 3.7% having an emotional disorder which would include anxiety and depression.
	At any one time, around 1.2 to 1.3 million children in Great Britain will have a diagnosable mental health disorder.

Energy

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12.

Daniel Poulter: The Department spent the following on gas and electricity in 2010-11 and 2011-12:
	
		
			 £ 
			  2010-11 2011-12 
			 Gas 117,690 139,343 
			 Electricity 862,052 1,145,671

Energy

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce its spending on (a) gas and (b) electricity.

Daniel Poulter: The Department's Sustainability and Development team review tariffs on a regular basis with suppliers.
	By the end of September 2013 the Department had reduced its energy usage by 24% compared to the baseline year 2009-10. This is on track to meet the Greening Government Commitment target.
	The Department has implemented a range of projects and initiatives to reduce energy consumption. These include:
	lighting upgrades, including the introduction of LED lighting;
	heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades;
	energy efficient air filters;
	boiler upgrades; and
	improved energy monitoring and bill validation.
	There have also been a range of information and communication technology related projects to reduce energy consumption, including the replacement of desktop personal computers with Thin Client Dynamic Desktop devices.

Epilepsy

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the benefits of establishing a national epilepsy deaths register.

Norman Lamb: SUDEP Action recently established an epilepsy deaths register which the Government is supportive of. The register is promoted by professional and patient organisations around the United Kingdom. This has been developed to look beyond the information produced by the Office for National Statistics which publishes mortality data by cause, derived from information recorded on death certificates.
	The important work that SUDEP Action are doing to bring sudden unexpected. death in epilepsy to greater public attention is in line with the Government's broader aims for health and social care in England. A key element of improving outcomes and tackling premature mortality is having the right information to improve understanding and inform actions—and the SUDEP register is making an important contribution to this. It is hoped that reviewing the data will improve understanding of the types of people most likely to die, and how mortality rates for different groups are changing over time.
	Details of the register can be found here:
	www.sudep.org/epilepsy-deaths-register-1
	The decision as to whether to establish a separate national register of epilepsy related deaths would now most appropriately to be taken by NHS England.

Epilepsy

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the state of care of epilepsy training.

Daniel Poulter: The Government has mandated Health Education England (HEE) to provide national leadership on education, training and workforce development in the national health service. This mandate includes a commitment to improve care of people suffering with long term conditions, by supporting training for staff, to deliver better prevention and care to patients with long term conditions.
	The content and standard of health care training is ultimately the responsibility of independent regulators. However, HEE will work with stakeholders to influence training curricula as appropriate. For the non-regulated professions, HEE, together with the Sector Skills Councils and professional associations, will have a role in determining the content and standard of training.
	HEE has not undertaken a recent assessment of epilepsy training and care.

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to work with NHS England to use programme budgeting to assess public spending on mental health services in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.

Norman Lamb: Programme budgeting data is being collected at primary care trust level for 2012-13 by NHS England. This will be published in the form of an interactive programme budgeting spread-sheet and resource for commissioners. Arrangements are being developed for 2013-14, the intention is that programme budgeting will be published at clinical commissioning group and NHS England area team level.

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of NHS and social care spending on mental health support in England for (a) children, (b) adults of working age and (c) adults over 65 years old in 2012-13.

Norman Lamb: The Department's Annual Report and Accounts for 2012-13 reports the expenditure on secondary mental health care as £8.796 billion. It is not possible to break this information into expenditure for different age groups.
	Provisional personal social services expenditure data published by the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre report gross expenditure in 2012-13 on social care for adults with mental health needs (aged 18 to 64) at £1.15 billion.
	Information in respect of social care spending for children is not held centrally.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will conduct a new psychiatric morbidity survey for children and adolescents;
	(2)  what plans he has to respond to the recommendations in the recent report by the Chief Medical Officer, Prevention Pays - our children deserve better, that there should be an annual survey of children's mental health and wellbeing and of investment in child and adolescent mental health services in England.

Norman Lamb: The Department is currently looking at the options available for undertaking a survey of children and young people to look at prevalence and outcomes of mental health and well-being in line with the Chief Medical Officer's recommendation, and what additional information this would give us.
	The Government has no plans to review investment in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services—commissioning these services is the responsibility of NHS England and clinical commissioning groups.

Midwives

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of midwives who were not employed by an NHS trust two years after qualifying.

Daniel Poulter: We are unable to estimate the proportion of midwives who were not employed by a national health service trust two years after qualifying because this data is not collected locally or centrally.
	There are currently 21,443 full-time equivalent qualified midwives working in the NHS, with an overall increase of 1,311 since May 2010. There are also in excess of 5,000 midwifery students in training and 75 more new training places this year than in 2010.

Midwives

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there are for (a) midwives and (b) supervisors of midwives in each NHS trust.

Daniel Poulter: There is no central collection of the number of vacancies of midwives and supervisors of midwives in each national health service trust. The Department of Health is able to provide data about the number of job advertisements placed on NHS Jobs by employers in the NHS.
	The following table shows number of adverts as at 31 October 2013 for midwives by NHS trust. Only Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust advertised a vacancy for the role of supervisor of midwives.
	
		
			 NHS trust Number of adverts 
			 Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust 2 
			 West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust 2 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 Croydon Health Services 2 
			 Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust 2 
			 Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust 4 
			 North Middlesex University Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 2 
			 University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 1 
			 Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 East Cheshire NHS Trust 1 
			 North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust 3 
			 Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 NHS Professionals—Specialist Nursing and Midwives 2 
			 Isle of Wight NHS Trust 1 
			 Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust 1 
			 Medway NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust 1 
			 Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 2 
		
	
	
		
			 Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board 1 
			 Hywel Dda Health Board 1 
			 Birmingham Women's NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 Mid Staffs NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust 1 
			 Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust 1 
			 Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 3 
			 Wye Valley NHS Trust 1 
			 Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 Note: The numbers produced are worked out from those adverts that are in the ‘Nursing’ or ‘Nursing and Midwifery Registered’ staff groups and have 'midwife' or ‘midwives’ in the job title. Source: Data gathered from NHS Jobs 31 October 2013.

Neurology

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many (a) elective and (b) emergency bed days were recorded for patients in each primary care trust or care commission group with a (i) primary and (ii) secondary diagnosis of a neurological condition, as defined under Diseases of the nervous system in the ICD-10 in each of the last five years for which data is available;
	(2)  how many emergency readmissions within seven days took place for patients in each primary care trust or care commission group with a (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of a neurological condition in each of the last five years for which data is available.

Norman Lamb: The information requested on the number of elective and emergency bed days recorded for patients with a diagnosis of a neurological condition has been placed in the Library.
	We have provided a count of bed days for a primary and secondary diagnosis of a neurological condition, ICD10 codes G00-G99, by primary care trust of treatment for the years 2007-08 to 2011-12. To ensure we capture all activity we have provided the data by elective, emergency and other admission methods. We are unable to provide the information by clinical commissioning group area.
	Information on re-admissions within seven days for patients in each primary care trust or clinical commissioning group area with a primary and secondary diagnosis of a neurological condition for each of the last five years is not collected.

Neurology

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of hospital stay was for patients in each primary care trust or care commission group with a (a) primary and (b) secondary diagnosis of a neurological condition in each of the last five years for which data is available.

Norman Lamb: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
	We have provided the mean and median length of stay for records with a primary and secondary diagnosis of a neurological condition, ICD10 codes G00-G99 by primary care trust of treatment for the years 2007-08 to 2011-12. We are unable to provide the information by clinical commissioning group area.
	It should be noted that some of these values are based on relatively small numbers of records, so are affected by one or a few large values.
	We have excluded averages derived from groups with five or fewer records.

NHS Property Services

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what process was used for the recruitment of the executive director of NHS Property Services.

Daniel Poulter: The executive directors for NHS Property Services Limited were recruited through a number of processes.
	The following table sets out the executive role and recruitment process:
	
		
			 Position Date appointed Process 
			 Chief Executive 1 September 2012 Open competition 
			 Finance Director 19 September 2012 Seconded from Community Health Partnerships(1) 
			 Human Resources Director 1 October 2012 Transferred from NHS(2) 
			 Director of Communications and Governance 1 October 2012 Transferred from NHS(2) 
			 Director of Asset Management 19 September 2012 Two year secondment from the Department of Health 
			 (1) The Director of Finance was appointed as a temporary secondment from Community Health Partnerships, the Department of Health owned company which manages NHS LIFT estate in primary and community care. (2) The Human Resources Director and the Director of Communications and Governance were previously employed within the NHS and were recruited using the provisions of the nationally agreed HR transition process designed to support the retention of NHS staff who were at risk of redundancy due to the implementation of the NHS reforms. 
		
	
	Those who were seconded were subsequently interviewed and assessed.

NHS Property Services

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25 October 2013, Official Report, column 284W, on NHS Property Services, what criteria were used by NHS Property Services to determine the suitability of applicants for vacancies for (a) executive and (b) non-executive positions.

Daniel Poulter: All candidates who applied for executive positions within NHS Property Services Limited (NHS PS) were assessed against their skills, knowledge and experience set out in the person specification for each job description to reflect the responsibilities and duties of the post. Each area was assessed in a number of ways where appropriate:
	By application;
	By interview;
	By test or presentation;
	By reference;
	By pre-employment check; and
	By certificate/documentation.
	All candidates who applied for non-executive director posts within NHS PS were evaluated for their knowledge, skills and strength of experience against the following headings:
	Finance;
	Property Services;
	Asset Management;
	Corporate Services;
	Business Services;
	Strategic;
	Non-Executive Director Experience; and
	NHS Non-Executive Director Experience.
	The Chair was appointed without competition on a two year contract. The Department took this decision as at the time of his appointment in August 2012, there was only eight months before NHS PS had to be operational. As he was an experienced NHS Chair, it was determined that this experience would be the most likely way to ensure a full board and executives team would be appointed, and operational by April 2013.
	The Department's nominee was appointed directly.

South London Healthcare NHS Trust

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of his appeal against the judgement issued by Mr Justice Silber on 31 July 2013 in the High Court on the South London Healthcare Trust and Lewisham Hospital.

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost of the High Court appeal by his Department in respect of the London Borough of Lewisham and Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign Ltd v Trust Special Administrator & Anr. Appeal to date.

Daniel Poulter: The estimated cost to the Department of bringing the appeal against the High Court judgment of 31 July 2013 is approximately £92,000.
	Once the Court of Appeal Judgment has been handed down, the court will be required to deal with consequential matters including both respondents' costs of the appeal, the level of which are not known at this time.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Baraa Shiban

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the exercise by immigration officials of powers under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 when they detained Baraa Shiban at Gatwick Airport on 23 September 2013.

Mark Harper: holding answer 29 October 2013
	Baraa Shiban was examined by officers of Sussex police and not by Border Force officers. No immigration officer exercised powers under schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 in this case.

Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether an HM Inspector of Prisons inspection visit to Campsfield House will take place in the next six months;
	(2)  what steps she has taken to ensure that immigration removal centres are subject to regular HM Inspector of Prisons visits.

Mark Harper: Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons has a statutory responsibility to inspect immigration detention facilities. The timing and frequency of these inspections are matters for the chief inspector. His current business plan envisages inspections of five immigration removal centres in this financial year. These inspections are normally unannounced. I have not been informed of any plans to inspect Campsfield House in the next six months.

Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recommendations made following the last HM Inspector of Prisons visit to Campsfield House have yet to be implemented.

Mark Harper: Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons made 71 recommendations in his last inspection report of Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre in 2011. Of the 59 recommendations accepted, 56 have been implemented.

Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to ensure that recommendations made following the last HM Inspector of Prisons visit to Campsfield House are implemented.

Mark Harper: Home Office Immigration Enforcement receives regular updates from the service provider and the local Home Office Immigration Enforcement Team on progress against the service Improvement plan published in November 2011 in response to the inspection report.

Common Travel Area

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has held with her Irish counterpart on strengthening the Common Travel Area.

Mark Harper: Home Office officials are in regular contact with Irish Government officials to take forward joint work on the Common Travel Area, which is underpinned and driven by the programme of work in the joint ministerial statement signed by the then UK Minister for Immigration, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Damian Green), and the Irish Justice Minister Alan Shatter TD in Dublin on 20 December 2011.

Detention Centres: Inspections

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish the full source and detail of the Immigration Removal Centre comparator information used in the recent Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons Report, published in July 2013, on Brook House Immigration Removal Centre.

Mark Harper: The comparator information in this inspection report was collected by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons as part of its inspections of Brook House and other immigration removal centres. The Home Office does not hold information further to that which the inspectorate has published in this and other inspection reports.

Drugs: Misuse

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to publish an evaluation framework for the National Drugs Strategy.

Norman Baker: holding answer 28 October 2013
	The Drug Strategy Evaluation Framework is currently being finalised and will be published shortly.

Drugs: Misuse

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) officials in her Department have had with the National Audit Office on the completion and publication of the Drugs Strategy Evaluation Framework.

Norman Baker: holding answer 28 October 2013
	The Home Secretary and Ministers in her Department have not had any discussions with the National Audit Office (NAO) about the completion or publication of the Drug Strategy Evaluation Framework. NAO have asked for updates on progress towards publication, which have been provided by officials in the Department.

Entry Clearances

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 13 September 2013, Official Report, column 901W, on entry clearances, how many family visa applications have been put on hold since 5 July 2013.

Mark Harper: holding answer 30 October 2013
	Spouse or partner and child applications under Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules which fall for refusal solely because they do not meet the minimum income threshold have been subject to a hold on decision-making following the 5 July 2013 High Court judgment in MM and Others.
	The Home Office is collating internal management information on the number of applications put on hold overseas and in country. This information will be published on the Home Office immigration website as soon as possible and then on a quarterly basis.

Entry Clearances: Foreign Workers

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 15 October 2013, Official Report, column 7MC, on entry clearances, if she will list, for each of the top 20 organisations which sponsor certificates for Tier 5 visas, the individual job titles and job descriptions for each certificate issued in each of the last three years where such number exceeds 10.

Mark Harper: holding answer 25 October 2013
	The table detailing Tier 5 Certificate of Sponsorship Used by Top 20 Sponsors period 1 January 2010-31 December 2012 will be placed in the House Library.

Entry Clearances: Foreign Workers

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long each issue certificate of sponsorship for Tier 5 visas issued by each issuing organisation was issued.

Mark Harper: holding answer 25 October 2013
	There were a total of 39,349 certificates of sponsorship by the top 20 Tier 5 sponsoring organisations used between 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012.
	A full list containing the duration of each certificate used will be placed in the House Library.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of whether evidential flexibility has improved decision making and processing times with Tier 4 applications under the points-based system.

Mark Harper: holding answer 28 October 2013
	The Home Office has made no assessment of whether evidential flexibility has improved decision making and processing times with Tier 4 applications under the points-based system. The evidential flexibility policy was introduced to improve customer service, rather than to improve decision making or processing times.

Landlord and Tenant: Right of Abode

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with landlords' associations on the viability of landlords being able to accurately assess the legitimacy of applicant tenants in terms of their right of abode in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Mark Harper: holding answer 14 October 2013
	A public consultation was conducted between 3 July and 21 September 2013 inviting responses to the published proposals. The Home Office published a response to the consultation on 10 October 2013 setting out the response received to the consultation from landlords’ associations, including a summary of written comments submitted and points made by associations in meetings with officials during the consultation. Additionally, I met representatives of the Residential Landlords Association on 17 October.

Licensing Laws

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to allow pubs to apply for extended licences to show late night football matches during the football world cup in 2014.

Norman Baker: Licensing hours are determined by licensing authorities under the Licensing Act 2003. Pubs which already have a licence to open late will be able to open as they currently do. Premises which wish to open longer during the World Cup can apply for an extension using a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) on which local police and environmental health authorities also have a say. This Government has already legislated to reform the TENs system including extending their flexibility. The Home Secretary has the power to make a national provision to extend licensing hours to mark occasions of exceptional international, national or local significance, as happened for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Passports: Concessions

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has any plans to extend eligibility for free UK passports to people over the age of 80 years.

Mark Harper: Concessionary passports are issued free of charge to applicants born on or before 2 September 1929. That date recognises those who were 16 or over at the time the second world war ended. The concession was introduced in 2004 as part of the 60(th) anniversary commemorative ceremonies and recognises the second world war generation of civilians and military personnel. There are no plans to extend the concession.

Prisoners: Repatriation

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice to deport foreign nationals in UK prisons to serve detention in their countries of origin.

Mark Harper: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) lead on the negotiation and implementation of Prisoner Transfer Agreements. The Home Office is working closely with MOJ to develop casework processes to ensure removals are delivered efficiently once agreements are implemented.

Public Expenditure

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's expenditure on (a) border control and (b) the asylum system was in each of the last 10 years; and how much of that expenditure was covered by fee income in each such year.

Mark Harper: holding answer 17 July 2013
	The published expenditure for Border Force operations is detailed in the table. For clarity, the cost of border control has been deemed to be all resource expenditure incurred by Border Force operations.
	However, it is important to note, Border Force has undergone a number of machinery of government changes that would make the expenditure over the last 10 years incomparable:
	Pre 2007-08 Border Force formed part of immigration and nationality directorate, Home Office.
	In 2008-09, UK Border Agency was formed including a transfer in of detection customs services from HM Revenue and Customs.
	At the end of 2011-12 Border Force was transferred out of UK Border Agency with its share of overheads.
	During 2012-13 further Border Force budgets were moved around as part of the transition arrangements with former UK Border Agency.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  Total Border Force expenditure Of which Border Force operations 
			 2012-13 596 393 
			 2011-12 437 398 
			 2010-11 486 446 
			 2009-10 471 447 
			 2008-09 462 462 
			 2007-08 216 195 
			 2006-07 241 204 
			 2005-06 177 176 
			 2004-05 148 144 
			 2003-04 133 133 
			 Source: BF Records. 
		
	
	(b) The total expenditure for the whole of asylum operations is not split out in the UK Border Agency Accounts.
	For this reason we can only supply expenditure relating to asylum support during the period it was listed in the UK Border Agency Accounts (five years):
	
		
			  Asylum support expenditure (£ million) 
			 2012-13 266 
			 2011-12 284 
			 2010-11 424 
			 2009-10 423 
			 2008-09 511 
			 2007-08 n/a 
			 2006-07 n/a 
			 2005-06 n/a 
			 2004-05 n/a 
			 2003-04 n/a 
			 Source: UK Border Agency accounts. 
		
	
	Fee income earned through migrant applications is not applicable to Border Force as they operate outside the arrangements.
	Income is not earned on any asylum application. In the period in question, asylum support costs have been more than covered by resource budget allocation. Any excess income has therefore been put towards crime and enforcement activity and support functions.

Sexual Offences

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  with reference to the identification of nine areas of action by the national group to tackle sexual violence against children and vulnerable people, which of those areas are receiving urgent attention;
	(2)  how many times the national group to tackle sexual violence against children and vulnerable people has met; and if she will publish the minutes of each meeting of the group;
	(3)  what progress the national group to tackle sexual violence against children and vulnerable people has made since April 2013 in relation to online-related abuse;
	(4)  what areas of action have been identified by the national group to tackle sexual violence against children and vulnerable people;
	(5)  what the membership and terms of reference are of the national group to tackle sexual violence against children and vulnerable people, set up by the Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice.

Norman Baker: holding answer 28 October 2013
	The National Group identified nine key areas for action and has initially prioritised action in four areas: to prevent abuse happening in the first place, to protect children online, to make sure the police can identify and deal with problems, and to ensure victims are at the heart of the criminal justice system. The Group published its first progress report and action plan (including work in relation to online-related abuse) on 24 July 2013. Both documents and other supporting information can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sexual-violence-against-children-and-vulnerable-people-national-group
	I will be leading on eight of the nine strands, with my ministerial colleague, the Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, leading on the cyber strand.
	The Government's commitment to working together is reflected in the Group's membership. It is made up of key partners such as the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, government departments and very importantly, experts such as Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, Barnardo's, Rape Crisis and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. We are building links with the many other stakeholders who also have an interest and want a role. The Group meets every three - four weeks and has already met nine times since it was established. It last met on 30 October when I attended for the first time, following the recent reallocation of ministerial posts.
	I am placing a copy of the list of organisations represented on the National Group and Group's terms of reference in the Library of the House.

TREASURY

Energy

Jason McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to reduce its spending on (a) gas and (b) electricity;
	(2)  which companies supplied (a) gas and (b) electricity to his Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12.

Nicky Morgan: The Treasury is committed to improving the energy efficiency of the Department's estate and reducing energy consumption year on year and continues to work with Exchequer Partnership, its PR supplier, on developing appropriate energy reducing initiatives.
	In line with Government policy and to benefit from public sector buying power, HM Treasury is centralising common commodity procurements, such as energy procurement, through contracts awarded and managed by the Government Procurement Service.
	The Department is also in the process of embedding its sustainability policy which includes measures on cutting emissions across its business operations and thus reducing spend on utilities. To date, real progress has been made in meeting Treasury Greening Government Targets through the implementation of initiatives such as:
	the replacement of lighting to new energy efficient LED bulbs;
	changing lighting in some parts of the building to sensor lighting;
	replacing end of life equipment with more energy efficient appliances;
	engagement campaigns for HM Treasury staff and other building occupiers on switching off lights, computer monitors and any other electrical equipment when not in use;
	working with the PFI supplier in HGR on finding better ways to manage the use of electricity and gas in our kitchens and reprographics areas and also taking forward the recommendations from a recent air conditioning survey;
	proactively monitoring the electricity supply to the building to identify areas where further investigation is called for;
	ensuring that the PFI supplier provider has its own sustainability plan in place to manage the building effectively;
	continuing to achieve certification under the Carbon Trust Standard.
	Corona Energy supplied gas and EDF Energy supplied electricity to HM Treasury for both years.

Tax Avoidance

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures are in place for HM Revenue and Customs' employees who are alerted to loopholes in tax rules.

David Gauke: Information is provided to HMRC either under a statutory obligation or spontaneously. In both cases the information is passed on to central teams who disseminate the information to relevant parties within HMRC. HMRC has a duty of care to protect the identity of the source for information spontaneously disclosed.
	HMRC employees examine the information to determine if it is avoidance and plan a compliance strategy which may include litigation in the courts or legislation to close the scheme.

JUSTICE

Crime: Victims

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which Minister in his Department is responsible for the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime.

Damian Green: The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), has appointed me as the Minister for Victims, in addition to my existing responsibilities for policing and criminal justice.

Prisoners' Release

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much advance notice is given to a victim of crime of the release from prison of the perpetrator of that crime.

Damian Green: New guidance for Probation Trusts regarding the statutory Probation Victim Contact Scheme makes clear that eligible victims who opt in to the scheme can expect to be informed of certain key stages in an offender's sentence, including the prospective date of release. The point at which this information is provided to a victim varies on a case by case basis.
	Where the offender is serving a determinate sentence, the release date is fixed. Victims will be informed of the expected month of release very early following sentence and will be updated should this date change—for example, if the offender receives added days.
	Where the offender is subject to discretionary release by the Parole Board, the victim will be informed early in the sentence of the month in which the offender will become eligible for consideration for release on parole, the earliest possible date of release, and given an explanation of what this means.
	As the offender's parole eligibility date approaches, the victim will be told that the offender is soon to have his case considered by the Parole Board and will be given the opportunity to submit a Victim Personal Statement (VPS) to the Parole Board panel, setting out the impact of the offence on them and what the impact of release would be. A victim can also apply to the Parole Board to read their VPS in person at the Parole Board hearing. The new Victims' Code, which was published on 29 October 2013, enshrines the entitlement for victims to make a Victim Personal Statement to the Board.
	The Parole Board's decision will usually be issued no later than 14 days after its consideration of the case, and the decision will be passed on to the victim(s) as soon as possible by their designated Victim Liaison Officer (VLO).
	Where the Parole Board decides not to release the offender on licence, the victim will be informed of the timing of any subsequent review.

Reparation by Offenders

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a right to restorative justice for victims of crime.

Damian Green: The Ministry of Justice has no plans to legislate to introduce a right to restorative justice (RJ) for victims of crime. However, the new Victims' Code, which was published on 29 October, sets out an entitlement for victims to receive information on RJ and how they could take part. This is led by the wishes and needs of the victim, subject to the local provision of RJ. The new code sets out strict requirements that any offer of RJ must be appropriate to the particular case. The new code also makes it clear that RJ activities must be conducted in a safe, secure environment with an appropriately trained facilitator according to recognised quality standards.

Salvation Army

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the (a) nationality and (b) gender was of each suspected victim of human trafficking referred to the Trafficking Victim Support Scheme operated by the Salvation Army in August 2013; in which (i) region, (ii) county and (iii) parliamentary constituency each of the suspected victims was found; and which agency referred each case to the scheme.

Damian Green: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28 October 2013, Official Report, column 359W.

Sexual Offences

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average time was between (a) offence commission and charge, (b) charge and first court appearance and (c) first court appearance to sentencing or acquittal for all sexual offence cases completed in 2012.

Shailesh Vara: The time taken from offence to completion at court is affected by factors such as the time taken to report the crime following the initial incident, the severity of the offence and the complexity of a possible trial. Additionally the reporting of historical sexual offence cases to the police can affect the average length of time taken from offence to completion.
	However, there are concerns about the time taken for sexual offence cases to progress through the courts, and the Senior Presiding Judge is looking into what might be done to improve timeliness.
	See Table 1 for the average number of days from offence to completion for all completed criminal sexual offences cases, England and Wales, 2012.
	The average timeliness from offence to completion for sexual offences is relatively stable (Q2 2010 to Q2 2013); with any changes seen driven by the average duration between offence and charge which is reflective of the complexity and seriousness of sexual offence reporting and investigation.
	
		
			 Table 1: Average number of days taken from offence to completion for all sexual offence criminal cases, in England and Wales, 2012(1,2,3,4) 
			  Offence to charge or laying of information—Average(7) Charge or laying of information to first listing—Average First listing to completion—Average Offence to completion(6)—Average 
			  Offence group(5) 
			      
			 Sexual offences 83 12 163 295 
			 (1) Includes all criminal cases which have received a verdict and concluded in the specified time period, in either the magistrates courts or the Crown Court. (2) Excludes breaches, appeals and cases with an offence to completion time greater than 10 years. (3) Statistics are sourced from the CREST linked court data and included around 95% of completed cases. (4) Only one offence is counted for each defendant in the case. If two or more cases complete on the same day, the case with the longest duration is included. (5) Cases have been classified according to the Home Office offence classification. (6) Totals may not sum due to rounding. (7) Median used. Source: Criminal Court Statistics, Justice Statistics Analytical Services

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2013, Official Report, column 41W, on apprentices, what proportion of the 2012-13 apprenticeship starts that were not completed in that year was as a result of drop outs (a) in total and (b) in each sector.

Matthew Hancock: For the 2012/13 academic year based on provisional data, of the 495,100 apprenticeship starts, 12,600 (or 2.5%) achieved and 64,500 (or 13.0%) withdrew within the same academic year. The remaining 418,000 (or 84.4%) were yet to complete.
	Table 1 shows the provisional number of apprenticeship starts in 2012/13. It shows of those starts: (i) the number and percentage that achieved and (ii) the number and percentage that withdrew within the same academic year, split by sector subject area.
	
		
			 Table 1: Apprenticeship starts, and of those starts the number who achieved and withdrew, by Sector Subject Area, 2012/13 (provisional) 
			 Sector Subject Area Starts Achieved Percentage of starts who achieved Withdrew Percentage of starts who withdrew 
			 Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care 6,900 160 2.3 690 10.0 
			 Arts, Media and Publishing 1,070 10 0.6 140 12.8 
			 Business, Administration and Law 156,260 4,350 2.8 22,900 14.7 
			 Construction, Planning and the Built Environment 13,280 380 2.9 1,560 11.7 
			 Education and Training 7,510 110 1.5 550 7.4 
			 Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies 63,520 940 1.5 5,050 7.9 
			 Health, Public Services and Care 119,540 2,120 1.8 13,930 11.7 
			 Information and Communication Technology 13,750 270 2.0 1,360 9.9 
			 Leisure, Travel and Tourism 14,040 230 1.6 1,650 11.7 
			 Retail and Commercial Enterprise 98,900 4,020 4.1 16,690 16.9 
			 Science and Mathematics 320 — 1.3 30 8.9 
			 Total 495,100 12,600 2.5 64,500 13.0 
			 ‘—’ Indicate a base value of less than five. Notes: 1. Volumes are rounded to the nearest 10 except for the grand totals which are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. The data source is the Individualised Learner Record.

Business: Advisory Services

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the need to encourage banks to provide better advice to their business customers who employ fewer than 10 people.

Matthew Hancock: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 30 October 2013, Official Report, column 480W.

Business: Advisory Services

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the advice available to businesses employing fewer than 10 people from other business owners.

Matthew Hancock: Research on the use of advice by small businesses can be found here on the BIS website:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/making-it-easier-to-set-up-and-grow-a-business--6/supporting-pages/enterprise-and-economic-development-analysis-eeda-research
	BIS is not planning to specifically assess advice provided by other business owners.
	The Government supports the idea of other experienced and successful business owners providing advice and expertise to people who are starting a business or who want to grow their business. This is why we support ‘Mentorsme’, set up by the British Banker's Association, which provides access to experienced business mentors across the UK with over 115 mentoring organisations and over 27,000 registered mentors.

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what UK business representation will attend the upcoming CHOGM in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Michael Fallon: There will be no UK business representation at CHOGM.

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what UK Trade and Investment representation there will be at the upcoming CHOGM in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Michael Fallon: UK Trade and Investment will not be represented at CHOGM.

Complaints

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many complaints of racial discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies by (i) employees and (ii) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action;
	(2)  how many complaints of homophobic or transphobic discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies by (i) employees and (ii) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action;
	(3)  how many complaints of sexual discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies by (i) employees and (ii) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action;
	(4)  how many complaints of discrimination related to pregnancy or maternity have been lodged against employees of (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies by (i) current employees and (ii) prospective employees in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action;
	(5)  how many complaints of age discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies by (i) employees and (ii) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action;
	(6)  how many complaints of disability discrimination or harassment have been lodged against employees of (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies by (i) employees and (ii) other individuals in each of the last five years; and how many such complaints resulted in disciplinary action.

Jo Swinson: The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The BIS grievance procedure is a process for employees to raise complaints about a variety of issues from harassment and bullying to complaints relating to end of year appraisal markings. Employees are encouraged to try and resolve issues informally if this is possible.
	The Department is currently reviewing how information on harassment and bullying is collected and is looking at ways that this could be improved in the future.

Consumers: Protection

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he (a) has taken and (b) proposes to take to seek changes to EU consumer law; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Swinson: The EU consumer law landscape is constantly evolving. The UK therefore actively engages on an ongoing basis to influence new proposals as they emerge and to ensure UK interests are reflected when opportunities arise to amend EU legislation.
	In recent years we have played an active role in negotiations on significant new proposals such as the Consumer Rights Directive and the Directive on Alternative Dispute Resolution, to ensure a balance was struck between consumer and business interests. Currently we are engaged in negotiations for a Common European Sales Law and a revised Package Travel Directive.
	The UK is also actively involved in the ongoing negotiation of the EU Product Safety and Market Surveillance Package. This legislation is designed to ensure that products brought onto the market are compliant with EU legislation and are safe to use and that there is a level playing field for businesses within the EU Single market.
	The European Commission has recently reviewed the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive and concluded that no change is necessary at present; we ensured that the UK position was been made clear during the Commission's consideration.
	There are further proposals in the pipeline, such as a review of the Directive on Timeshare, Long Term Holiday, Resale and Exchange Contracts and proposals to amend the Misleading and Comparative Advertising Directive. We will continue to work with the European Commission and other member states to ensure that the need for any change is justified and that the necessary protections for consumers are in place.

Foreign Students

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of UK students attending university (a) study overseas and (b) take a degree which allows them to study abroad for (i) one or (ii) two years.

David Willetts: On 25 June 2013, the Organisation for Economic, Co-operation and Development (OECD) published their latest 'Education at a Glance' report that included information on the number of students engaged in tertiary-level education abroad. Further details are provided at the link:
	http://www.oecd.org/edu/eag.htm
	(a) Latest figures from OECD show that in 2011 some 37,490 students from the United Kingdom were reported to be studying abroad. The figure is based on data reported by OECD member countries and estimates produced by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) for non-OECD countries.
	(b) Information on students enrolled at UK higher education institutions (HEIs) is collected and published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). The table shows the number of UK domiciled students enrolled in tertiary-level education at a UK HEI in the 2011/12 academic year, including those studying or working on a programme abroad for all or part of the year. The majority of the these students access opportunities for study and work overseas through Erasmus, the European Union's flagship educational exchange programme for higher education students, teachers and institutions. Erasmus forms part of the EU Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) (2007-13) and will continue under the successor Erasmus+ Programme (2014-20), which will include provision for Erasmus mobility beyond Europe.
	It is up to each institution to decide which of the courses they offer may involve study abroad, and for how long. It is also up to institutions whether they take part in the Erasmus scheme. 191 UK institutions have applied for the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education, which will allow their students to take part in the Erasmus scheme from 2014.
	
		
			 UK domiciled(1) enrolments(2) studying or working overseas. UK higher education institutions. Academic year 2011/12 
			  Duration Number of students 
			 Studying abroad Whole year 10,695 
			  Part of year 2,555 
			    
			 Industrial placement abroad Whole year 1,915 
		
	
	
		
			  Part of the year 205 
			    
			 Total UK enrolments (studying at home or abroad)  2,064,140 
			 (1) Domicile refers to a student's permanent or home address prior to entry to their course (2) Enrolments refer to students in all years of study Note: Includes students on outgoing exchanges, Lifelong Learning Programmes (LLP) sponsored by the European Union (ie Erasmus) and other collaborative programmes. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency 
		
	
	Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of five, so components may not sum to totals.
	The proportion for UK students studying abroad according to the location of enrolment has not been provided as the information available is not from a singular source.
	A sector led strategy on UK outward student mobility will be launched later this year. The strategy, which is supported by Government funding, aims to increase the number of UK students taking international placements as part of their UK degree.

Land Registry

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will set out the arrangements being made for wider consultation specific to proposals to change the status of the Land Registry.

Michael Fallon: If there were to be any proposal for a change in the status of Land Registry, we would embark on a full and careful consultation.

New Businesses: Lancashire

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many start up loans have been granted to businesses in (a) Ribble Valley constituency and (b) Lancashire in the last five years.

Matthew Hancock: holding answer 31 October 2013
	The Start-Up Loans scheme volumes for (a) Ribble Valley and (b) Lancashire are as follows. The Start-Up Loans Company does not capture data at constituency level, therefore the following figures are obtained by postcode region.
	(a) Ribble Valley: 10 loans with a total value of £62,791;
	(b) Lancashire: 304 loans with a total value of £1,924,215.

Overseas Trade: Sri Lanka

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether a UK trade envoy will be in Sri Lanka in November 2013.

Michael Fallon: My noble Friend Lord Marland will be in Sri Lanka in November 2013 on the invitation of the Commonwealth Business Council.

Public Houses

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on microbreweries of offering a rent only option to tied pubs.

Jo Swinson: The Government's consultation on establishing a statutory code of practice and an independent adjudicator to govern the relationship between pub companies and their tenants closed on 14 June. The purpose of the consultation was to gather additional evidence to help us better assess the likely impact on the pubs industry of our proposals, including the mandatory free of tie option. We received over 1,130 written responses to the consultation, including from microbreweries, and over 7,000 responses to the online questionnaire. We are currently considering all the evidence submitted during the consultation and on that basis will decide how to act. We intend to publish a Government response to the consultation towards the end of the year.

Students: Finance

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2013, Official Report, columns 875-6W, on higher education: student numbers, how many four-year degree courses entitled students to (a) three and (b) four years of fee loans and maintenance support in each such year.

David Willetts: Eligible students who are studying on three and four year undergraduate courses that are designated for student support are entitled to apply for fee loans and maintenance support for each year of their course.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Air Pollution

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he intends to publish a summary of responses to his Local Air Quality Monitoring consultation.

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA has had a large number of responses to the consultation on local air quality management and these are currently being considered. We expect to publish a summary of responses by the end of the year.

Air Pollution

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he made of the (a) finding of the European Environment Agency report, Air quality in Europe—2013, that Hillingdon had the second highest levels in Europe of nitrogen dioxide and (b) other findings of that report.

Dan Rogerson: The Government notes the high reading for nitrogen dioxide concentrations from the monitoring station in Hillingdon. It cannot be concluded from the report that Hillingdon has the second highest concentrations of nitrogen dioxide in the EU, only that it has the second highest reading of the urban and suburban monitoring stations analysed. It should be noted that the placement of monitoring stations can greatly affect the reading levels. The Hillingdon urban background station is located 30 metres from the M4 motorway and is therefore affected by traffic emissions from this very busy road.
	We have noted the conclusions of the Air Quality in Europe report published by the European Environment Agency. We are committed to working towards full compliance with European Air Quality Standards and are investing significantly in transport and other measures that will contribute to reductions in local air pollution.

Energy

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to reduce its spending on (a) gas and (b) electricity;
	(3)  which companies supplied (a) gas and (b) electricity to his Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12.

Dan Rogerson: The energy spend by core DEFRA for the period April 2010 to March 2012 was:
	
		
			 £ 
			  2010-11 2011-12 
			 Gas 190,780.07 106,270.77 
			 Electricity 422,964.62 474,071.20 
		
	
	During this period, all energy was purchased through the Government Procurement Service Energy Framework. All Government Departments are required to purchase energy through this framework, which delivers economies of scale benefits and best value for Government. Total Gas and Power and Corona Energy supplied Gas and EDF and British Gas supplied electricity.
	Core DEFRA is taking a number of actions to reduce its energy spend:
	Implementing energy reduction initiatives, such as LED lighting and a review of the heating and cooling systems at Nobel House; repairing and re-commissioning wind turbines at the Alnwick office in January 2013; installation of draught proofing and heat reflectors at Nobel House and the York office;
	Introduction of a 19 degrees centigrade winter heating set point in all offices;
	Rationalisation of the London estate, making more efficient use of buildings; and
	Purchasing all gas and electricity through the Government Procurement Service Energy Framework.

Farms

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2013, Official Report, column 55W, on farms, if he will list (a) all 195 regulations that his Department has abolished and (b) additional regulations that have been introduced since July 2010.

George Eustice: Since July 2010 DEFRA has introduced 254 regulations, a copy of which I have placed in the Library, entitled table A. DEFRA has also abolished 188 regulations during this same period, a copy of which I have placed in the Library, entitled table B. This is a correction to the figure quoted in my previous answer of 21 October 2013, Official Report, column 55W.
	All new regulation is now monitored carefully for the purposes of One-In, One-Out and more recently One-In Two-Out. The Government's Statement of New Regulation published on 10 July 2013 reported that, since January 2011, DEFRA's regulations had resulted in an estimated reduction' in annual net costs to business of £147.4 million.

Fisheries: Western Sahara

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2013, Official Report, column 451W, on fisheries: Western Sahara 
	(1)  how the protocol, as initialled, will benefit Saharawi fishermen;
	(2)  how he plans to ensure that the indigenous people of Western Sahara benefit from the geographical distribution of European funds for structural support and infrastructure.

George Eustice: The protocol, as initialled, requires Morocco to report on the geographical distribution of European funds for structural support and infrastructure and to include the impact on jobs and investment.
	The protocol has not yet been agreed by the Council and the European Parliament. The Government still has several concerns with the protocol, as initialled, including the extent to which it ensures benefits to the people of Western Sahara.

Forests

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the UK is covered by (a) broadleaf and (b) conifer forest.

Dan Rogerson: Forestry Statistics published by the Forestry Commission in September show that there are 1,508,000 hectares of broadleaf woodland and 1,619,000 hectares of conifer woodland in the UK. Together this covers 13% of the UK land area.

Forests

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the forest cover in the UK is designated for (a) productive woodland and (b) amenity value.

Dan Rogerson: Woodland is not designated by its management objective in any UK forestry statistics. However, it is widely accepted that many forests are managed for multi-purpose objectives.

Forests

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what target his Department has set for forest cover in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland; and what the proposed mix is between broadleaf and conifer in each area.

Dan Rogerson: Forestry is a devolved matter and the decision on whether or not to set targets for forest cover and what these targets might be is a matter for the devolved Administrations. The Forestry and Woodlands Policy Statement for England, published in January, estimated that 12% woodland cover could be achieved in England by 2060 with government and the sector working together towards this shared objective. The type of trees to be planted was not specified as it is primarily up to the landowners and managers to define the nature of woodland planted.

Forests

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland is covered by forest.

Dan Rogerson: Forestry Statistics published by the Forestry Commission in September show that the area of woodland in England is 1.3 million hectares, 10% of the land area. In Wales it is 305,000 hectares, 15% of the land area. In Scotland it is 1.41 million hectares, 18% of the land area, and in Northern Ireland it is 111,000 hectares, 8% of the land area.

Forests

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of whether current Forestry Commission guidance on planting forest promotes the type of tree planting suitable for future use in commercial forestry.

Dan Rogerson: Forestry is a devolved issue and guidance on tree planting and woodland creation is a matter for the devolved Administrations. In England, the key principle is: the right tree in the right place. The guidance given in connection with the English Woodland Grant Scheme's woodland creation grant encouraged all types of woodland planting, provided that it met the rules of the scheme and the UK Forestry Standard. The Standard sets out the UK's approach to sustainable forest management.

Fracking

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with shale gas operators on their ability to meet the costs of (i) environmental clean-up and (ii) civil claims should pollution or damage to third party interests occur.

Dan Rogerson: No recent discussions have taken place between the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), or Ministers in DEFRA and shale gas operators on this subject.
	Under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 the Environment Agency (and in the case of Wales, the Natural Resources Body for Wales (NRBW)) is required to assess operator competence as part of its permit determination (with exceptions for stand-alone water discharge and stand-alone groundwater activities).
	In all cases the operator must demonstrate that it is technically competent to operate the facility. In the case of permitting for installations covered by the industrial emissions directive and waste and mining waste operations, financial competence checks are made at the permitting stage and the Environment Agency will only issue a permit if it believes the operator is capable of meeting the obligations of the permit. Financial competence is considered at the compliance assessment stage for installations, waste operations, mining waste operations, and for water discharge and groundwater activities.
	Financial provision is also required for certain types of facility. Under the mining waste directive there is a requirement for a financial guarantee for a Category A waste facility or hazardous waste facility. Whether the facility is either Category A or hazardous will be a factual determination based on the nature of the waste involved and the level of risk posed by the facility.

Incinerators: Worcestershire

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the financial arrangements for the proposed waste incinerator at Hartlebury, Worcestershire.

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA and HM Treasury officials are currently working with Herefordshire council and Worcestershire county council which are jointly responsible for the project to assess the proposal, including the financial arrangements currently being explored by the councils.

Timber

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the UK's need for future sustaining domestic timber supplies; and how such need will be met.

Dan Rogerson: The Forestry Commission undertakes a continual assessment of the levels of timber stocks within Britain's woodland through the National Forest Inventory. It also estimates and publishes forecasts of projected timber removals over a 25 year period. Several such forecasts are produced, with each assuming alternative economic scenarios.
	Alongside these forecasts of removals, forecasted rates of tree growth and forecasts of the remaining timber within the forests are also published. This enables sustainable practice to be assessed by comparing projected removals to projected growth.
	There is an increase in the amount of domestic timber production forecast, which will peak in 2030. Forestry is a devolved issue and how future needs, beyond 2030, will be met is a matter for the devolved Administrations. In England we set out our priorities to protect, improve and expand our public and private woodland assets in our Forestry and Woodlands Policy Statement which we published in January.

EDUCATION

Boarding Schools

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the potential damage to children as a result of attendance at boarding school from a young age;
	(2)  what his policy is on establishing a lower limit on the age at which children can full board at boarding school;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the risk of potential psychological damage to children as a result of attendance at boarding school from a young age;
	(4)  what steps he is taking to ensure that vulnerable children are not harmed as a result of boarding at a young age.

Edward Timpson: The Department has not made any such assessments, or set a minimum age for boarding, because it believes that these are matters for parents. Parents are best placed to decide the right educational setting for their children.
	Boarding schools must meet the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools, which set the standards that boarding schools must meet in securing outcomes for boarders. These include safeguarding and promoting boarders' welfare. All boarding schools are inspected regularly against the standards.

Chequers

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he last attended Chequers; and what the purpose of that visit was.

Elizabeth Truss: It is long-standing Government practice not to provide details of such meetings.

Internet: Bullying

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what financial support his Department has given to organisations raising awareness of National Stop Cyber Bullying Day on 21 June 2013.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department did not give direct financial support to organisations for the purpose of raising awareness of National Stop Cyberbullying Day on 21 June 2013.
	The Department is, however, currently providing over £4 million funding over two years from April 2013 to March 2015 to four anti-bullying organisations. These are BeatBullying, the Diana Award, Kidscape and the National Children's Bureau. While the funding provided was not to help them support National Stop Cyberbullying Day, it is designed to support their work to tackle bullying more broadly, which can and does include cyberbullying.

Internet: Bullying

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his Department spent in 2012 on tackling (a) cyber-bullying and (b) internet trolling.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department is providing £4 million of funding over two years (2013 to 2015) to four anti-bullying organisations. This includes BeatBullying, the Diana Award, Kidscape and the National Children's Bureau. The funding provided is to support the organisations in developing projects to tackle all forms of bullying, including cyberbullying.
	The Department also provided £152,506 to the Diana Award in the financial year 2012-13 to support its Anti-Bullying Ambassadors programme. This programme empowers young people to take responsibility for changing the attitudes and behaviour of their peers towards bullying. As part of the training the young people consider the different types of bullying, including cyberbullying.
	The Government also provided funding to tackle cyberbullying in the financial year 2012-13 through the Cabinet Office Social Fund. BeatBullying received £1.3 million to run a Cybermentors programme to support young people who are bullied on and offline.

Kings Science Academy

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  if he will consider putting Kings Science Academy into special measures;
	(2)  whether a free school can be put under special financial measures because of irregularities by management and governors.

Edward Timpson: Only Ofsted can put a school into special measures. Where the Education Funding Agency (EFA) has concerns about financial management and/or governance in a free school, the EFA may issue a Financial Notice to Improve.

Kings Science Academy

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of whether Sajid Raza is a fit and proper person to be principal of Kings Science Academy in Bradford.

Edward Timpson: The responsibility for a principal's performance rests with the governing body of the academy. The governing body is currently carrying out an investigation, after which they may take disciplinary action.

Kings Science Academy

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how and by what mechanism his Department contacted West Yorkshire police in April 2013 regarding the Department's investigation into Kings Science Academy in Bradford;
	(2)  which police authority his Department contacted regarding its investigation into Kings Science Academy in Bradford;
	(3)  what information his Department provided to the police in April 2013 regarding its investigation into Kings Science Academy in Bradford;
	(4)  if he will publish the interim report of March 2013 of his Department's inquiry into Kings Science Academy in Bradford.

Edward Timpson: The Department contacted West Yorkshire police by telephone on 25 April. The West Yorkshire police directed that fraud or suspected fraud should be reported via Action Fraud, who in turn referred the report to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. The Department provided information on invoices submitted to the Department as part of a claim for the “lead-in” grant before the academy opened to the National Fraud Investigation Bureau. The Education Funding Agency does not publish interim reports as they are not complete. The final investigation report for Kings Science Academy was published on 25 October 2013.

Pay

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to reduce pay for senior staff in his Department.

Elizabeth Truss: Levels of pay for senior staff are controlled by the annual pay award process. Base pay for the senior civil service (SCS) was frozen for three years and the latest award limited base pay awards to an average of 1%. Planned reductions in headcount at senior levels over the spending review period are also contributing to a lower paybill for senior staff. Excluding SCS from arm’s length bodies brought within the Department since 2010, the monthly SCS paybill has reduced from £1,042,725 in April 2010, to £892,966 in April 2013.

School Teachers' Review Body: Wales

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent representations he has received from the Welsh Government on the devolution of the functions of the School Teachers Review Body to a Wales-based body.

David Laws: In May 2012, the then Welsh Government Minister for Education and Skills requested that the Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), explore options for devolving to the Welsh Government those functions of the School Teachers' Review Body that relate to the content and timing of in-service teacher training (INSET) days. He has not received any additional representations.

School Teachers' Review Body: Wales

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on devolving the functions of the School Teachers Review Body to a Wales-based organisation.

David Laws: In October 2011 the Government established the Commission on Devolution in Wales, chaired by Paul Silk. Part II of the Commission's remit includes reviewing and making subsequent recommendations on the devolvement of UK Government powers to Welsh Government in order to serve better the people of Wales.
	In written evidence to the Commission on Devolution, the UK Government made clear that it would welcome the Commission's consideration of the subject of teachers' pay and conditions. The Commission is due to report its findings before spring 2014.

Schools

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of all schools inspected by Ofsted under section 5 of the Education Act 2005 have been classified as (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) requires improvement and (d) inadequate in their most recent inspections.

David Laws: This question is a matter for Ofsted. HM chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has written to the hon. Member, and a copy of his response has been placed in the House Libraries.

Temporary Employment

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2013, Official Report, column 1018W, on temporary employment, for what purpose each temporary member of staff has been recruited to his ministerial private office; and for how long each was employed.

Elizabeth Truss: The ministerial private office provides critical support to the Secretary of State and has in the past recruited agency staff to cover vacancies where necessary, and only until permanent staff are appointed. The seven temporary staff employed since May 2010 covered varied roles at different points. There are currently no temporary members of staff appointed in his ministerial private office.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces Covenant: Northern Ireland

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department is doing to support troops in Northern Ireland in the absence of a military covenant.

Anna Soubry: The Armed Forces Covenant applies in Northern Ireland just as it does elsewhere in the United Kingdom and I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 10 April 2013 by my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Lord Astor of Hever, to the noble Lord, Lord Empey of Shandon in the other place (Official Report, House of Lords, column WA260).

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's vehicle capitation rates;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library copies of his Department's aircraft capitation rates;
	(3)  if he will place in the Library copies of his Department's manpower capitation rates.

Anna Soubry: Our current policy is to use actual costs wherever possible, for example in calculating the charge to be levied for services the Ministry of Defence provides externally. We therefore no longer issue capitation rates centrally; their compilation and use is at local discretion. The publication of such information would be prejudicial to our commercial interests.

Iran

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the speed with which Iran could use the centrifuge capability available to it to enrich enough uranium from the three and a half per cent purity required for civilian nuclear use to the 90 per cent purity required for weapons grade materials so as to manufacture a ballistically deliverable nuclear warhead.

Andrew Murrison: Iran is currently enriching uranium not only to 3½% but also to nearly 20%. As the International Atomic Energy Agency's most recent report on the Iranian nuclear programme makes clear, Iran has a growing stockpile of uranium enriched to nearly 20%, which it is enriching in defiance of United Nations Security Council Resolutions. This brings Iran closer to the day when it will have sufficient stocks to further enrich this material to weapons-grade and produce a nuclear device, should it so choose. The next round of talks on Iran's nuclear programme will take place 7-8 November 2013 in Geneva. We hope negotiations will lead soon to concrete steps to address international concerns regarding Iran's nuclear programme.

Military Bases: Northern Ireland

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many cases of self-harm by civilian staff took place in military establishments in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many cases of self-harm by civilian staff took place in military establishments in Northern Ireland between 1 April and 30 September 2013.

Anna Soubry: I will answer shortly.

Military Bases: Northern Ireland

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many cases of self-harm by soldiers took place in military establishments in Northern Ireland between 1 April and 30 September 2013;
	(2)  how many cases of self-harm by soldiers took place in military establishments in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Murrison: Between the period 1 January 2009 and 30 September 2013 the following number of personnel received care for deliberate self-harm from a Ministry of Defence (MOD) medical centre in Northern Ireland:
	
		
			  Number of personnel(1) 
			 2009 7 
			 2010 18 
			 2011 15 
			 2012 8 
			 2013 13 
			 (1) Personnel may be seen on more than one occasion but have only been counted once per year. The same person may, however, be included in the figures for multiple years if they have received care in more than one year. 
		
	
	Of these personnel, five cases were recorded by their units as having taken place in a military establishment in Northern Ireland.
	Between 1 April 2013 and 30 September 2013 fewer than five army personnel received care for deliberate self-harm from an MOD medical centre in Northern Ireland. None of these incidences were recorded by units as having taken place in a military establishment in Northern Ireland.

Military Bases: Northern Ireland

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the welfare of (a) soldiers and (b) civilian staff at Abercorn Barracks, Ballykinler, Co Down; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The welfare of both military and civilian personnel is a high priority at any military establishment.
	Ballykinler has a range of welfare provisions in place including a Unit Welfare Officer, Unit Medical Officer and a Padre all of whom are available for all staff to talk to. In addition, a range of counselling services are available through the Army Welfare Service and Staffcare.
	A variety of other support organisations including a HiVE, SANDES (a Christian led organisation), the Soldiers, Sailors Airmen and Families Association, the Royal Voluntary Service and Community Support Staff also offer support and/or activities for all personnel and their families at Ballykinler.
	Ballykinler has also benefited from welfare investment including upgrading the current welfare facilities and improvements to the Junior Ranks' club and a children's play area.
	The previous Minister for Defence Personnel Welfare and Veterans, and now Minister for the Armed Forces, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois), visited Ballykinler to see many of these facilities for himself in March this year.

Public Expenditure

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Annual Budget Cycle 14 Technical Instructions.

Anna Soubry: I am withholding the Annual Budget Cycle 14 Technical Instructions, as its release would be prejudicial to the commercial interests of the Ministry Defence and would be likely to compromise the formulation and development of Government policy.

Red Arrows

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what aircraft the RAF Red Arrows will be operating from 2018.

Martin Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with what aircraft he plans to replace the Red Arrows' Hawk T1.

Philip Dunne: The out of service date for the Hawk TMkl, which is flown by the RAF Aerobatic Team, is currently 2020. Future plans are kept under review and no decision has yet been taken on a replacement aircraft.

Telephone Services

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what geographic telephone numbers his Department advertises for use by the general public.

Anna Soubry: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

World War II: Detention Centres

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when each of the prisons run by the Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre ceased to operate; and what took the place of each.

Anna Soubry: The Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre (CSDIC) (UK) stood down on 7 November 1945. It was not replaced, but some of its functions were transferred to Camp 074 also known as CSDIC (Western European Area). This camp, originally located at Dienst in Belgium from 1944, was moved to the German town of Bad Nenndorf in 1945. Camp 074 closed in the summer of 1947.
	It was replaced with a smaller establishment known as No 10 Disposal Centre located at Haasenwinkle in Germany. Records at the National Archives indicate that this camp was closed in the early 1950's when the Federal Republic of Germany assumed responsibility for counter-intelligence on its territory.

World War II: Detention Centres

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which organisation took over the functions previously carried out by the Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre.

Anna Soubry: Once the Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre ceased to exist the functions it undertook during the second world war were carried out by the services as necessary during operations, with a range of joint service bodies fulfilling training and operational aspects of these tasks at different times.

CABINET OFFICE

Average Earnings: North West

John Woodcock: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average weekly gross earnings of a full-time employed (a) man and (b) woman in the North West was in cash terms in each year since 1997.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average weekly gross earnings of a full-time employed (a) man and (b) woman in the North West was in cash terms in each year since 1997. (173385)
	The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. Weekly levels of earnings are estimated from ASHE, and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay, whose earnings for the survey pay period were not affected by absence. Figures relate to employee jobs, which are defined as those held by employees and not the self-employed.
	I attach a table showing estimates of median gross weekly earnings in the North West from April 1997 to April 2012, the latest period for which results are available. Figures are provided separately for full-time male employees and full-time female employees.
	
		
			 Median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees(1) in the North West, from April 1997 to April 2012 
			  Full-time male Full-time female 
			 1997 346.7 250.3 
			 1998 357.9 258.1 
			 1999 371.3 267.8 
			 2000 379.7 276.6 
			 2001 392.6 292.9 
			 2002 406.5 311.0 
			 2003 419.3 322.1 
			 2004(2) 439.5 335.1 
			 2004(3) 438.0 332.0 
			 2005 445.6 350.0 
			 2006(4) 461.0 363.0 
			 2006(5) 459.3 358.5 
			 2007 479.1 373.7 
			 2008 490.4 392.1 
			 2009 497.5 406.2 
			 2010 500.0 417.8 
			 2011 498.5 417.0 
			 2011(7) 498.7 412.4 
			 2012(8) 505.8 420.3 
			 (1 )Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence. (2) 2004 results excluding supplementary survey for comparison with 2003. (3 )2004 results including supplementary survey designed to improve coverage of the survey (for more information see ONS website: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/specific/labour-market/annual-survey-of-hours-and-earnings). (4) 2006 results with methodology consistent with 2005. (5) 2006 results with methodology consistent with 2007. (6) 2011 results based on Standard Occupational Classification 2000. (7) 2011 results based on Standard Occupational Classification 2010. Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), Office for National Statistics.

Childbirth

Lucy Powell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many live births there were (a) in Greater Manchester and (b) nationally in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question on how many live births there were (a) in Greater Manchester and (b) nationally in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013 [173808].
	The table below shows the number of live births to mothers usually residing in Greater Manchester and England for 2010 to 2012. Births data for 2013 will be published in July/August 2014.
	
		
			 Number of live births 2010-12 
			  Greater Manchester England 
			 2012 37,852 694,241 
			 2011 37,584 688,120 
			 2010 37,876 687,007 
			 Source: Office for National Statistics. 
		
	
	For more information, births by area data are published on the ONS website at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/birth-summary-tables--england-and-wales/index.html

Death: Weather

John Woodcock: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of excess winter deaths in (a) Barrow and Furness constituency, (b) Cumbria and (c) the North West in each of the last three years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated October 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the number of excess winter deaths in (a) Barrow and Furness constituency, (b) Cumbria and (c) the North West in each of the last three years. (173550)
	Estimates of excess winter deaths are based on the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding four months (August to November) and the following four months (April to July). The table provides the number of excess winter deaths, and the excess winter mortality index, for (a) Barrow and Furness parliamentary constituency, (b) Cumbria county and (c) the former North West Government Office Region in winters 2008/09 to 2010/11 (the latest figures available). Data for winter 2011/12 will be published on 26 November 2013.
	
		
			 Table 1: Excess winter deaths and index for Barrow and Furness parliamentary constituency, Cumbria county and former North West GOR, 2008/09 to 2010/11(1,2,3,4) 
			 Area Excess winter deaths Index 
			 2008/09   
			 (a) Barrow and Furness constituency 40 13.5 
			 (b) Cumbria 350 20.8 
			 (c) North West 4,870 22.9 
			    
			 2009/10   
			 (a) Barrow and Furness constituency 60 19.7 
			 (b) Cumbria 190 11.4 
			 (c) North West 3,520 16.7 
			    
			 2010/11   
			 (a) Barrow and Furness constituency 50 15.6 
			 (b) Cumbria 210 12.2 
			 (c) North West 3,330 15.6 
			 (1) Figures are based on deaths from all causes occurring in each period. (2 )The figures provided relate to residents of these areas. (3 )Excess winter deaths are rounded to the nearest 10. (4 )The index is calculated as the excess number of winter deaths divided by the average number of non-winter deaths, expressed as a percentage. Notes: 1. The index is used to compare how many more deaths occur in winter months than non-winter months, expressed as a percentage. It allows for analysis of trends over a period of time and for comparison of areas where there is a large variation in population. For example, as seen in Table 1, in 2010/11,15.6% more deaths occurred in the winter months in Barrow and Furness than in the non-winter months, this is a decrease from 19.7% in 2009/10. 2. The number of excess winter deaths for local areas is relatively small (generally less than 400 deaths). Calculations based on small numbers of events are often subject to random fluctuations, and excess winter deaths for local areas tend to be quite variable from one year to the next.

Part-time Employment

Ian Lucas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many part-time workers are working less than 24 hours a week.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated October 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Minister for the Cabinet Office asking how many part time workers are working less than 24 hours a week in the UK. (172879).
	The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of information on hours and earnings in the United Kingdom. The ASHE is used to produce estimates in respect of employees on adult rates of pay, whose earnings for the survey pay period were not affected by absence. For methodological reasons ASHE cannot be used to estimate the number of workers who work less than 24 hours per week, but can be used to estimate the corresponding proportion of employee jobs (jobs held by employees and not including the self-employed).
	In April 2012, the latest period for which results are available, ASHE shows that the proportion of all employee jobs in the UK in which the employee worked less than 24 hours in total was 20.8 per cent. Given that the published ONS Statistics on ‘Workforce Jobs’ include a UK level estimate that there were 27.82m employee jobs at March 2012, we estimate that there were 5.79m employee jobs in which the employee worked less than 24 hours per week at that time.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Devolution: Wales

Hywel Williams: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he has met members of the Welsh Government at which the Constitutional Convention was discussed in the last 12 months; and who attended each such meeting.

Nicholas Clegg: I have not had meetings specifically related to the Constitutional Convention. However, there are many high level meetings I attend involving the UK Government and the Welsh Government. These include meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee and the British-Irish Council. A wide range of issues, including constitutional matters, have been discussed at these meetings.

Travel

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on how many occasions and for what reasons he has used military transport for domestic travel since taking office; and if he will provide a list of all such occasions.

Nicholas Clegg: I travel in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible, in accordance with chapter 10 of the 'Ministerial Code'. Most recently, I travelled by military transport from Belfast with other delegates to attend the G8 Summit in Loch Erne on 18 June.